How to certify your documents

A certified copy is a document that has been certified as a true copy of an original document.

To certify a document, take the original document and a photocopy to one of the people listed in the categories below and ask them to certify that the photocopy is a true and correct copy of the original document. That person will need to print their name, date and the capacity in which they are signing (e.g. postal agent, Justice of the Peace). Sample wording is provided below.

I, [full name], as [category of persons as listed below], certify that this [name of document] is a true and correct copy of the original [signature and date].

Who can certify copies of documents?

In Australia

A person who, under a law in force in a State or Territory, is currently licensed or registered to practise in one of the following occupations:

  • Architect

  • Chiropractor

  • Dentist

  • Financial adviser or planner

  • Legal practitioner

  • Medical practitioner

  • Midwife

  • Migration agent registered under Division 3 of Part 3 of the Migration Act 1958

  • Nurse

  • Occupational therapist

  • Optometrist

  • Patent attorney

  • Pharmacist

  • Physiotherapist

  • Psychologist

  • Trade marks attorney

  • Veterinary surgeon

  • A person who is enrolled on the roll of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory, or the High Court of Australia, as a legal practitioner (however described)

Accountant who is:

  • A fellow of the National Tax Accountants; Association; or

  • the Parliament of a State; or

  • A member of any of the following:

    • Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand;
    • the Association of Taxation and Management Accountants;
    • CPA Australia;
    • the Institute of Public Accountants
  • Agent of the Australian Postal Corporation who is in charge of an office supplying postal services to the public

  • Australian Public Service (APS) employee engaged on ongoing basis with 2 or more years of continuous service not specified elsewhere in this table

  • Australian Consular Officer or Australian Diplomatic Officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955)

  • Bailiff

  • Bank officer with 2 or more continuous years of service

  • Building society officer with 2 or more years of continuous service

  • Chief executive officer of a Commonwealth court

  • Clerk of a court

  • Commissioner for Affidavits

  • Commissioner for Declarations

  • Credit union officer with 2 more years of continuous service

Employee of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission who is:

  • in a country or place outside of Australia; and

  • authorised under paragraph 3(d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and

  • exercising his or her function at that place

Employee of the Commonwealth who is:

  • in a country or place outside Australia; and 

  • authorised under paragraph 3(c) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and

  • exercising his or her function in that place

Engineer who is:

  • a member of Engineers Australia, other than at the grade of student; or

  • a Registered Professional Engineer of Professionals Australia; or

  • registered as an engineer under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or Territory; or

  • registered on the National Engineering Register by Engineers Australia

  • Finance company officer with 2 or more years of continuous service

  • Holder of a statutory office not specified elsewhere in this table

  • Judge of a court

  • Justice of the Peace

  • Magistrate

  • Marriage celebrant registered under Subdivision C of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961

  • Master of a court

Member of the Australian Defence Force who is:

  • an officer; or

  • a non-commissioned officer within the meaning of the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 with 2 or more years of continuous service; or

  • a warrant officer within the meaning of that Act

  • Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
  • Member of the Governance Institute of Australia Ltd

Member of:

  • the Parliament of the Commonwealth; or

  • the Parliament of a State; or

  • a Territory legislature; or

  • a local government authority of a State or Territory

  • Minister of religion registered under Subdivision A of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
  • Notary public

  • Permanent employee of the Australian Postal Corporation with 2 or more years of continuous service who is employed in an office supplying postal services to the public

Permanent employee of:

  • the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority; or

  • a State or Territory or a State or Territory authority; or

  • a local government authority

    with 2 or more years of continuous service and is a person not already specified elsewhere in this table

  • Person before whom a statutory declaration may be made under the law of the State or Territory in which the declaration is made
  • Police officer
  • Registrar, or Deputy Registrar, of a court

Senior Executive Service employee of:

  • the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority; or

  • a State or Territory or a State or Territory authority

  • Sheriff

  • Sheriff’s officer

  • Teacher employed on a full-time basis at a school or tertiary education institution

  • An officer with, or authorised representative of, a holder of an Australian financial services licence, having 2 or more years of continuous service with one or more licensees

  • An officer with, or a credit representative of, a holder of an Australian credit licence, having 2 or more years of continuous service with one or more licensees

Outside of Australia

  • A legal practitioner who holds a current practicing certificate under a law in force in a State or Territory in Australia

  • An officer of an Australian bank, building society or finance company branch or office located in a foreign jurisdiction with 2 or more years of continuous service

  • Australian Consular Officer or Australian Diplomatic Officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955)

Employee of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission who is:

  • in a country or place outside of Australia; and

  • authorised under paragraph 3(d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and

  • exercising his or her function at that place

Employee of the Commonwealth who is:

  • in a country or place outside Australia; and

  • authorised under paragraph 3(c) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and

  • exercising his or her function in that place

  • Judge of a court

  • Magistrate

  • Registrar, or Deputy Registrar, of a court

  • A person authorised as a notary public in a foreign jurisdiction

Accountant who is:

  • A fellow of the National Tax Accountants; Association; or

  • A member of any of the following:

    • Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand;
    • the Association of Taxation and Management Accountants;
    • CPA Australia;
    • the Institute of Public Accountants
  • A person who is authorised by law in the relevant jurisdiction to administer oaths or affirmations or to authenticate documents.